Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since the funds 842W for the Cattle Headage Payment Scheme were donated to the Meat Industry Employment Scheme and since the last change in the value of the green pound will effect the value of this scheme, what steps he proposes to take to reimburse beef producers in Northern Ireland who will without some action have to bear the loss incurred.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I am studying the consequences for payments under the Meat Industry Employment Scheme for beef of the recently agreed changes in the representative rates for the United Kingdom and the Irish Republics pounds. A decision will be announced in good time before the new representative rates come into effect for beef on 5th January next. We are including in our consideration the future use of that part of the Northern Ireland Special Assistance Grant (Remoteness) funds which were formerly used for payments under the Cattle Headage Payments Scheme (Northern Ireland).
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the basis of prices paid for suckler calves in the principal markets of Northern Ireland to the 31st October 1975, what is his estimate of the gross margin per suckler cow on hill and lowland farms in Northern Ireland for 1975.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAverage gross margins from suckler cows as recorded on farms participating in the Northern Ireland Farm Management Survey for 12 months ended 31st March 1975 were given in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Londonderry on 30th October 1975. Changes in returns and variable costs since that period suggest that gross margins for these herds, both lowland and upland, will be around £60 per cow in 1975–76.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what practical advice is at present being given to suckler calf producers in Northern Ireland in an effort to raise the weight of the suckler calves offered for sale in Northern Ireland; and whether any figures have 843W been published to prove the economic viability of such advice.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesBoth farmers and advisers are aware of the considerable difference in price at the autumn suckler calf sales between heavier good quality calves and lighter calves of poor conformation. Evidence from farm accounts and individual case histories, including those of suckler herds at colleges and experimental farms, indicates that it is economically more advantageous to produce the heavier good quality calf.
This information is used by advisers, through the media, in Government publications and at meetings and demonstrations to encourage the production of better quality calves by means of an
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Number of Calves Month Destination Irish Republic Italy Federal Republic of Germany Spain Total 1973— January … … 1,306 — — — 1,306 February … … 735 — — — 735 March … … 714 — — — 714 April … … 752 — — — 752 May … … 410 — — — 410 June … … 175 — — — 175 July … … 210 — — — 210 August … … 183 — — — 183 September … … 351 — — — 351 October … … 3,153 — — — 3,153 November … … 2,638 — — — 2,638 December … … 595 — — — 595 1973 Total … … 11,222 — — — 11,222 1974— January … … 231 — — — 231 February … … 327 — — — 327 March … … 197 — — — 197 April … … 332 — — — 332 May … … 319 — — — 319 June … … 240 — — — 240 July … … 59 — — — 59 August … … 185 — — — 185 September … … 107 — — — 107 October … … 2,819 — — — 2,819 November … … 4,602 — — — 4,602 December … … 3,348 — — — 3,348 1974 Total … … 12,766 — — — 12,766 1975— January … … 2,032 — — — 2,032 February … … 1,103 — — — 1,103 March … … 1,350 — — 10 1,360 April … … 816 — — — 816 May … … 381 — — — 381 June … … 199 — — — 199 July … … 508 — — — 508 August … … 416 463 — — 879 September … … 1,069 202 148 — 1,419 1975 (to date) … … 7,874 665 148 10 8,697 improved breeding policy, a planned calving programme and better nutrition.
An Advisory Services leaflet—"The Suckler Herd"—which is available free to all farmers covers the whole field of suckler calf production, and frequent articles on the subject are published in "Agriculture in Northern Ireland".
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the numbers of young calves exported each month from Northern Ireland in 1973, 1974 and 1975 to the latest available date; and what was the destination of such calves.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesFollowing is the information:
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Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grants are available to suckler producers in Northern Ireland to increase the production of silage on the farms of such producers; how these grants compare with those of 1972; and what is the standard cost of a 400 ton silo in 1975 and in 1972, such a silo to be covered and incorporate a lying in shed capable of overwintering 50 suckler cows and their autumn calves.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesGrants are available under the Silage Payments Scheme to suckler producers and other farmers who are making silage for the first time. Payments are made at the rate of £1 per ton for the first 100 tons and 50p per ton for the next 400 tons, with a maximum payment on any application of £300. There were no grants available for silage making in 1972. Additionally, any farmer may be eligible for grants under the Farm Capital Grants Scheme for the erection of buildings including silos.
The information requested in the final part of the question cannot be given because of the many possible variations in the cost of erection of buildings of the type described. However, the standard costs which may be used when obtaining grant under the Farm Capital Grants Scheme have been increased on three occasions since May 1972, the last increase being in April 1975, and on average those relating to this type of building have been increased by over 60 per cent.